The effect of a course of therapeutic exercise on life satisfaction in stroke patients with paralysis
Subject Areas :Shayan ErfanMehr 1 , Ghobad Hasanpour 2
1 -
2 - Departmen of Sport Physiology, Marv.C., Islamic Azad Univercity, Marvdasht, Iran.
Keywords: Stroke, Hemiplegia, Exercise Therapy, Quality of Life, Rehabilitation,
Abstract :
Introduction: Stroke is one of the most important causes of chronic disability in adults, causing impairment in motor, mental, and social functions and severely reducing the quality and satisfaction of patients' lives. Life satisfaction is a multidimensional concept that is severely affected in stroke patients due to reduced mobility, dependence, and depression . Exercise therapy, as a non-pharmacological and low-cost intervention, in addition to improving physical function, improves mood, self-confidence, and social interaction in patients. The
research methodology: This quasi-experimental study was conducted with a pretest-posttest design and a control group in 1403. 30 stroke patients were randomly assigned to two exercise therapy and control groups. The intervention group underwent stretching, balance, and resistance exercises for 8 weeks, and the main research instrument was a questionnaire. The findings showed that the average quality of life score in the exercise therapy group increased significantly, while no change was observed in the control group.
Findings: The mean quality of life score in the exercise therapy group increased from pre-test to post-test, which was statistically significant. Improvements were also observed in all four dimensions of quality of life (physical, psychological, social, and environmental). The control group did not show any significant change. Covariance analysis also confirmed the effect of the exercise therapy intervention. These results indicate a positive, independent, and strong effect of exercise therapy on improving the quality of life of stroke patients.
Conclusion: The results of the study showed that exercise therapy significantly increased life satisfaction in stroke patients without the need for other interventions. This method is safe, inexpensive, and can be implemented at home, and it improves the physical, mental, and social functioning of patients. Exercise therapy can be recommended as a main part of the rehabilitation program for stroke patients.
References
Ahmadi, F. (2014). Study of the effect of exercise therapy on depression and daily functioning of stroke patients. Master's thesis, University of Tehran.
Asadi, N. (2012). The effectiveness of functional training on the quality of life of stroke patients. Isfahan University of Medical Sciences.
Azizi, A. (2013). The effect of structured motor training on life expectancy of stroke patients. Master's thesis.
Bernhardt, J., et al. (2017). Prescribing exercise after stroke. Stroke, 48(10), 2699-2706.
Duncan, P. W., et al. (2003). Stroke disability and rehabilitation in the community. Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair, 17(3), 123-129.
Ebrahimi, M. (2012). The effect of exercise therapy on depression and self-efficacy of stroke patients. Master's thesis.World Health Organization. (2020). WHOQOL-BREF: Introduction, administration, scoring and generic version of the assessment. Geneva: WHO.
French, B., et al. (2016). Repetitive task training for improving functional ability after stroke. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, (11).
Ghasemi, A., Fathi, M., Raisi, N., and Shafiei, P. (2007). Study of the effect of exercise therapy on the gait of hemiplegic patients. Iranian Journal of Physical Medicine, 41–49.
Ghasemi, A., Heydari, F., Rahnama, M., and Moradi, S. (2009). Comparison of three exercise therapy methods, electrical stimulation and biofeedback on the balance of stroke patients. Iranian Journal of Rehabilitation, 55–63.
Hassanzadeh, R., and Razavi, Sh. (2013). The relationship between motor function and quality of life in stroke patients. Rehabilitation Quarterly.
Hinkle, J. L., Guanci, M., Mohlman, J., & Vincent, C. (2023). Stroke rehabilitation: A systematic review of exercise-based approaches. Neurorehabilitation Journal, 39(4), 223-234.
Kwakkel, G., et al. (2004). Effects of augmented exercise therapy time after stroke. Stroke, 35(4), 1024-1029.
Langhorne, P., Coupar, F., & Pollock, A. (2009). Motor recovery after stroke: A systematic review. The Lancet Neurology, 8(8), 741-754.
Lennon, S., & Ashburn, A. (2000). The influence of position on muscle activity in stroke patients: A review. Clinical Rehabilitation, 14(6), 604-614.
Li, Y., Zhang, M., & Wang, L. (2021). Functional rehabilitation in post-stroke patients: The role of exercise. Journal of Stroke and Cerebrovascular Diseases, 30(2), 105620.
Moradi, M. (2012). The effect of motor training on the balance and gait of stroke patients. Iranian Journal of Rehabilitation Sciences.
Norouzi, S. (2011). The effect of resistance training on the quality of life of stroke patients. Master's thesis, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences.
O'Sullivan, S. B., & Schmitz, T. J. (2007). Physical Rehabilitation (5th ed.). F.A. Davis Company.
Platz, T., et al. (2005). Repetitive task-specific training after stroke. Restorative Neurology and Neuroscience, 23(5-6), 377-385.
Pollock, A., et al. (2014). Physical rehabilitation approaches for the recovery of function and mobility after stroke. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, (4).
Rezaei, L. (2015). Exercise therapy and psychological outcomes of stroke patients. Journal of Research in Neuroscience.
Shumway-Cook, A., & Woollacott, M. (2017). Motor Control: Translating Research into Clinical Practice (5th ed.). Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
Sullivan, K. J., et al. (2007). Step training with body weight support improves mobility and balance in people with stroke. Stroke, 38(1), 253-260.
Teasell, R., et al. (2009). Evidence-based review of stroke rehabilitation: Executive summary. Topics in Stroke Rehabilitation, 16(6), 463-488.
van Peppen, R. P., et al. (2004). The impact of physical therapy on functional outcomes after stroke. Clinical Rehabilitation, 18(8), 833-862.
Veerbeek, J. M., et al. (2014). Early prediction of outcome after stroke. Stroke, 45(4), 110-118.
Woldag, H., & Hummelsheim, H. (2002). Evidence-based physiotherapeutic concepts for improving arm and hand function in stroke patients. Journal of Neurology, 249(5), 518-528.
Wolf, S. L., et al. (2006). Effect of constraint-induced movement therapy on upper extremity function 3 to 9 months after stroke. JAMA, 296(17), 2095-2104.
Zhang, J., Li, Y., & Chen, H. (2019). Motor training and plasticity in stroke survivors. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 100(1), 95-102.
